<p>I am from Western PA and want to find a bank that my student can use at school and I can deposit into locally. My local bank (PNC) lists the Wawa as a "free" location to access cash. Does the Wawa have an ATM? How close is it to campus? Apparently, the Wawa wasn't on my campus tour :)</p>
<p>Yes, the WaWa has an ATM and currently there are no charges from that ATM to withdraw money (however your bank many apply charges but the bank that owns the ATM does not). The WaWa is literally across the street from campus near the Wren Building/Colonial Williamsburg part so it’s very accessible.</p>
<p>There is also an ATM in the Sadler Center and Campus Center on campus although they do charge for withdrawls.</p>
<p>Thanks for your quick reply and sorry for the double post. First day on CC!</p>
<p>Credit unions usually allow you to use a local credit union as if it were your own branch. So you could have an account at a local CU, then your kid could use the atm or lobby of any cu near school. However, the nearest CU atm to campus is about a mile away.</p>
<p>I got a debit account with/for D here at home, so that she could get cash as needed, when she started at W&M. She just graduated…and between the debit card and
Flex dollars (used on campus for various expenses), she never once in four years withdrew cash!</p>
<p>While this thread is active, can you tell me how you reloaded your student’s flex account? From my credit card here at home or bank transfer?</p>
<p>Actually, I confused Flex, which is associated with dining, with Express, which is used for miscellaneous expenses like laundry, printing, etc. It is very easy to add to those accounts using a credit card online!</p>
<p>btw, welcome to the Tribe!</p>
<p>Yes, you can place money on your student’s W&M Express (similar to a debit card that can be used on campus and at some locations off-campus) online using a credit card. We think you can also add flex points (dining dollars) to a meal plan should they run out.</p>
<p>I believe the on campus atm is run by Wells Fargo. Putting money into flex/express can be done in the sadler center during move in using your credit card. When you add $ online I think they charge you a service fee of like 2.50. But if you call in your info over the phone it is free.</p>
<p>I think I have finally GOT it! The W&M ID card will “know” his meal plan (meals/week), his flex points (when he needs more food) and hold the W&M Express money (for yet MORE food). Thanks for all your help. Although, I am out of state, I am fortunate to be of driving distance. I can’t imagine sending a student on a plane cross-country…</p>
<p>You could also sign up for a Wachovia bank account when your student arrives for orientation. They were previously offering a cash bonus (maybe $50 or 75??) at orientation for opening a new student account. The benefit is that there is a Wachovia in CW and that your student can cash checks from you or others and draw bank checks if needed (ie to pay greek organizations & other school incidentals, charitable donations, etc.) and transact with a bank teller locally. They can then put their own money into the account (yess???) and use a debit card like a credit card for non W&M purchases & books, e-book subscriptions, etc.</p>
<p>Wachovia/Wells Fargo and SunTrust are probably the two best choices for east coasters. Do you have either close by in PA?</p>
<p>Wachovia and SunTrust both have branches within reasonable walking distance of campus. Wachovia is down Richmond Rd. towards Bloom (grocery store) and other shops. SunTrust is in Colonial Williamsburg. The ATM in the Sadler Center is run by Wachovia which is a slight plus for convenience, but the ATM in Wawa is fee-free. Besides, it seems like lots of people go to Wawa way more often than the Sadler Center anyway. :D</p>
<p>Personally I used the debit card way more than withdrawing cash, so the ATM was of little importance. I found SunTrust’s service to be a lot better than Wachovia’s.</p>
<p>One other option, if you can’t find a bank with service in both locations, is to set up a bank account that is convenient for you in PA and a bank account that will be convenient for your student at W&M. Most banks allow you to electronically transfer funds for free, even between accounts at different banks. So you could deposit into the PNC account, and then your student could transfer it electronically to Wachovia or SunTrust or another bank with a good local presence. Both Wachovia and SunTrust allow you to “pull” in funds from accounts at other banks for free.</p>
<p>Just an update that Wachovia is now becoming Wells Fargo, but all existing account info presently remains the same.</p>